The draft law on tangible property rights - also known as real rights - was submitted to national legislators for review on Friday.  

It forms a major part of a new civil code and fundamental property legislation.

During the six-day session of the Standing Committee of the 10th National People's Congress (NPC), which opened on Friday, the lawmakers will also discuss draft laws to protect public order and tackle solid waste pollution.

Vice-Minister of Public Security Tian Qiyu explained the law on public order offences was drafted to punish wrongdoing, better protect citizens' rights and curb improper behavior by police officers.

The legislators will hold their second round of discussions on the draft bankruptcy law and the draft amendment to the electoral law for the NPC and local people's congresses.

Real rights are property rights in general, such as real estate rights. They can also be attached to moveable property.

"The real rights law will play an important role in clarifying property ownership, making full use of property and protecting the rights' owners," said Hu Kangsheng, vice-director of the NPC Law Committee.

China will introduce preliminary elections for congress deputies if the amendment to the electoral law is adopted.

NPC deputies and deputies to the people's congresses of provinces, municipalities directly under the central government and cities divided into districts are elected by the people's congresses at the next lower level, according to the law.

Deputies to the people's congresses of counties, cities not divided into districts, municipal districts, townships, minority townships and towns are elected directly by their constituencies.

The law says candidates could be nominated by political parties or organizations or they could be nominated by groups of 10 or more voters.

The list of candidates in direct election would then be finalized through discussion by the electoral committee.

The draft amendment says the preliminary elections should be held when the electoral committee cannot reach a consensus.

Huang Weiping, director of the Institute of Contemporary Chinese Politics Research at Shenzhen University, said such a practice will help avoid back-door deals on deciding official candidates.

"Progress in the gradual reform of the electoral system will bring a brighter future for democracy," he said.

The law, adopted in 1979, covers elections to all levels of legislative bodies - from the NPC to grassroots bodies - and was amended in 1982, 1986 and 1995.

(China Daily October 23, 2004)